Car-coupling.



UAR UPLING.

APPMGATIOH rum JAX, :saE ma@ 2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

Yti Y $1 wu. w. n

PATBNTD FEB, S N36. S. W. WIBEL, W. E, SUNIEGHAM a H. G.

No. BlLB.

GR GGUPLING.

Hummm funn un. au. 190s.

2 SHBBTB-SHBET 34 UNITED sTATI's PATENT OFFICE.

4[SOLOMON W. VVIBEL AND WILLIAM It. CUNNINGHAM, OF DENVER, AND

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

npplioation lesi January 30, 19(15. Serial No. 243,173.

To all whom, t Tri/(ty concern:

Be it known that we, SOLOMON W. VVIBEL and WILLIAM It. CUNNINGHAM, residing in the city and county of Denver, and HORACE A. GRAY, residing at Arvada, Jefferson county State of Colorado, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and we do declaro the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description o the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in car-couplers more especially adapted for use with radiating draw-bars or draw-bars pivotally connected with the respective cars, such las are commonly used in street-railway service.

Our object is to provide a thoroughly-practicablecoupler construction more especially adapted for use for the class of work just indicated.

Our further object is to provide a device of this class which shall be sim le in construction, economical in cost, re iable, durable, and elicient in use; and to these ends the invention consists of the features, arranvements, and combinations hereinafter ilescribed and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawin s, in which is illustrated an embodiment t ereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of two draw-heads shown in the coupled position, the same being equipped with our Improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the same, showing the parts in the coupled or locked position. Fig. V3 is a similar view showing the parts in the unlocked position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the arts in the position indicated in Fig. 3. 'g. 5 is a top or plan view of two draw-heads slightly separated in order to indicate the interlockin recesses and projections on the sides of t e heads. Fig. 6 1s a front elevation of a draw-head equipped with our improvements. Figs. 7, S, 9, and 1() are perspective views, on a larger scale, of the movable features of the mechanism. Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken through two draw- 'i able point.

heads, showing the parts in the coupled position, being a modiiicd forni of construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Referring irst more especially to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 10,inclusive, let the numeral 5 designate a draw-head which is rigidly secured to a bar 6 by bolts 7. It will be assumed that the bar 6 is pivotally connected with a car (not shown) at a suit- Tho bar is broken off beyond the pivot. Consequently the latter is not disclosed. In the upper and lower walls of each draw-head are formed openin s 8 and 9, which coincide as to position an are adapted to receive a pin 10, which holds the couplin f device 12 in place, the latter being provide with a registering opening. There is only one coupling device employed with the two draw-heads. This device may be connected with either draw-head by the use ol the pin 10. Hence when the pin is in one draw-.head the holes 8 and 9 of the other draw-head are unoccupied. The two draw-heads, however, are of substantially the same construction. The coupling device 12 is provided with a hook-shaped head 13, adapted to engage a pin 24, mounted in the draw-head and shown somewhat elongated in cross-section and occupying an inclined position in order to facilitate its connection with the head of the coupling device as the latter enters the drawhead. In the upper part of each draw-head is journaled a spindle 14, Whose outer extremity is rovided with an exposed crank-arm 15, which is fast on the spindle. Within the chamber 16 of the draw-head the spindle is provided with a projection 17, which when occupying the depending position (shown in Fig. 2) en ages the couplinv device from above and o ds the latter in the locked position. The relative positions of the projection 17 and the crank-arm 15 are such that the part 17 will normali assume by gravity the locking position. 'lhe position of the arm 15, however, is such as to form an angle with the projection 17 for a Y urpose hereinafter apparent. Near the ottom of the draw-head is journaled a spindle 18, having an eXteriorly-exposed cam 19 secured to its outer extremity and adapted to act on the crank 15 to throw the part 17 to the unlocked position. The spindle 18 is also provided with a projection 20, located within IOO the chamber o1 the draw-head and adapted to act on the extremity 13 of the coupling device to raise the latter to the unlocked )osition simultaneously with the action oil` the cam 19 on the arm 15 to raise the part 17 in order to permit the coupling-hook to rise, as stated. The projections 17 and 20 occupy the relative position shown in Fig. 2 when the part 17 is in the locking position and the coupling device in the coupled position. At the same time the parts 15 and 19 occupy the relative position shown in Fig. 1. Now il' it is desired to uncon'ple the cars the workman. by the vuse of any suitable instrument (not Shown) lifts the cam 19 to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the parts are thrown to the unlocked and uncoupled position, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed, however, that the part 19 acts on the part 1.5 before the part 20 acts on the coupling device 12 in order that the part 17 may be raised sufiieiently to allow the hook 12 to move upwardly by the time the part 2() engages the said hook.

As shown in the drawings, both draw-heads may be provided with spindles 14 and 18 and their attachments at the same time, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. However, when the vertical pin 1() is employed to hold the coupling device in place only one pin 24 is emloycd. The draw-head in which the pin 24 1s not located, however, is provided with an opening. (Shown in dotted lilies at the left o Fig. 2 and designated 21.) It will be understood from the foregoing description that the coupling device 12 may be changed from one draw-head to another by simply removing the pin 10 from one draw-head andthe pin 24 from the other draw-head, taking out the coupling device 12 and inserting it in the opposite draw-head, so that its opening 13a shall register with the openings 8 and 9. The pin 1() is then dropped into place in the one draw-head and the bolt 24 inserted in the other draw-head. The operation ol our improved device will now be described. If it is desired to couple two cars, it may be assumed that the spindles 14 and 18 and their attachments of one draw-head are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, being the draw-head which the coupling device 12, carried by the opposite draw-head, is about to enter. N ow as the cars approach each other and the coupling device 12 enters the draw-head at the right (referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive) the hook-shaped extremity 13 of the cou ling device will act on the projection 20 to tlirow the spindle 18 automatically to the position shown in Fig. 2. The coupling-hook will at the same time drop to engagement with the bolt 24. As the position o? the spindle 18 shown in Fig. 2 corresponds with the position of the cam 19 in Fig. 1, it is evident that the cam Will be in osition to allow the crankarm 15 to move ownwardly, whereby the projection 17, With the spindle 14, assumes the locking position with reference to the coupling device 12.

Attention is called to the fact that the spindles 14 and 18 are held in position by cot-ters or keys 22, passed througl'i o )el'iings formed in the exposed extremities of the spin.- dles, being those remote from the extremities to which the parts 15 and ware attached. lt will also be observed that when two drawheads are in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the parts 15 and 19 are on opposite sides, whereby the draw-heads are interchangeable. Attention is also called to the Vfact that the adjacent extren'iities oi the drawheads are provided with counterpart recesses and projecti ons,wliereby they interlock to prevent independent verticalmovement. For instance, (referring to Figs. 1 and 4,) the drawhead at the right is provided with a' curved projection 23, which is the counterpart of a curved recess or eoncavity 25, formed on the corresponding side of the opposite draw-head. Again, the side of the right-hand draw-head opposite that containing the projection 23 is provided with a corresponding recess 23, adapted to receive a projection 25a on the corresponding side of the opposite draw-head. This also maintains the interchangeability of the draw-heads, so that they may be made from the same pattern and may be used on all cars and at the same time harmonize for coupling purposes.

Now if it is desired to employ a construction adapted to lock and unlock at either draw-head a coupling device 2G and of the construction shown in Fig. 1 1 may be employed. This couplin(r device has two hookshapcd heads 27, and these heads may simultaneously engage the pins 24 in the respective draw-heads. In this case the vertical pin 10 will be dispensed with and the two l'spindles 14 and 18 of each draw-head will be employed at the same time. Assuming that the cars are coupled and that the couplin device is in the position shown in Fig. 11, i it is desired to uncouple the cars the parts 15 and 19 on either side of the car may be manipulated to raise the hook extremity 27 of the device 26 to the uncoupled osition, whereby the cars may separate. Yllhen the spindles 14 and 18 of one draw-head are thrown to the position shown in Fig. 3, the corresponding spindles of the opposite draw-head will be in t 1e position shown at the left of Fig. 11 whereby the corresponding cou ling-hook 27 will engage the bolt 24, thus olding the cou ling device in the one draw-head while it is isconnected from the other draw-head. When this construction is employed, it is evident that the cars may be uncoupled from either side.

Attention is called to the fact that each draw-head is provided with elongated openings (desi natedAand B ,respectively) formed in one si e wall thereof in order to allow the IOO IIO

engaging parts ada ted to act on the coup- 18 to enter the draw-head from the outside. ling device for loe ring and unlockin pur- Each draw-head is also provided with two poses, the spindles being also provide with registering openings 21, located in its oppoeXteriorly-located cooperating parte to facilisite side walls to receive the pin 24. l tate manipulation for the v urpose set Jforth.

Attention is called to the fact that in the 4. The combination wit a draw-head, of a construction shown in the drawings the pins coupling device suitably connected with the 10 and 24 are interchangeable. Hence in the draw-head, spindles journaled in the draweonstruction shown in `ig. 11 ii either head head above and below and having interior 27 of the coupling device should break the projections adapted to act on the coupling pin 24 could be removed from its position and device of the opposite draw-head, one of the dropped into the registering openings 8 and spindles having an eXteriorly-located arm 9, passing through an opening 27, formed in and the other an eXteriorly-located cani, the the coupling devi'ce 26. Attention is called arm and the cam being arranged to cooperate to the fact that this coupling device 26 is profor coupling and uncoupling purposes, the vided with two openings 27a, adapted to regopposite draw-head being provided with a ister with the openings 8 and 9 of the respecpin adapted to engage the coupling-hook for tive draw-heads. coupling pur ioses, substantially as described.

Having thus described our invention, what 5. The combination of two draw-heads each We claim is-4 being provided with a rigid pin, a coupling 1. The combination with a draw-head, of a device having two hook-shaped extremities coupling device mounted therein and vertiadapted to engage both ins when the drawcally movable Jfor coupling and unconpling heads are coupled, each raw-head being also purposes, the draw-head being also provided rovided with upper and lower spindles havwith upper and lower spindles provided with ing projections adapted to act on the adjaprojections located within the chamber of cent extremities of the cou ling device, the the draw-head, and eXteriorly-located engagspindles being also provide( with exteriorlying parts consisting of a cani and an arm, sublocated engaging parts to facilitate manipustantiall)r as described. lation.

2. The combination with a draw-headJ of a 6. The combination with two draw-heads, coupling device suitably connected with the of a couplin device having hook-shaped eX- draw-head and vertically movable, upper and treinities adapted to enter the respective lower spindles journaled in the draw-head draw-heads, devices located in the lower parts and havinginteriorly-located pro`ections one of the draw-heads for engaging the couplingof which is adapted to act on t e coupling hook extremities, upper and ower splndles device of the opposite draw-head to hold the journaled in each draw-head and adapted to latter in the locking osition, while the other act on the adjacent extremityAr of the coupis adapted to raise t ie same coupling device ling device Jfor unlocking and locking purto the unlocked position, the two spindles beoses, the said spindles of the draw-heads being provided with eXteriorly-located engaging provided with exteriorly-located parts ing parts to facilitate manipulation7 for the engaginor for coupling and uncoupling purpnrpose set forth. oses, the exterior parts on the two draw- 3. The combinationwith a draw-head havheads being located on opposite sides for the ing a pin, of a cou ling-hook connected with purpose set forth. the draw-head an engaging the pin, the said In testimony whereof we ailix our signahook being vertically movable Jfor cou ling tures in presence of two witnesses. and uncou ling purposes, a second raw- SOLOMON W. WIBEL. head provi ed with a pin adapxted to be en- WILLIAM R. CUNNINGHAM. gaged by the coupling-hook of t eiirst-nained HORACE A. GRAY projections 17 and 20 of the spindles 14 and draw-head, each draw-head being also pro-I Witnesses: vided with upper and lower spindles jour- DENA NELSON, naled therein and having interiorly-located A. J. OBRIEN.

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